1959 Major League Baseball season

Schedule

The 1959 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.

Opening Day took place on April 9, featuring four teams. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on September 27, which saw all sixteen teams play, the first time since . Due to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves finishing with the same record of 86–68, a best-of-three tie-breaker was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season. The World Series took place between October 1 and October 8.

Rule changes

The 1959 season saw the following rule changes:

• The minimum outfield dimensions for all new ballparks are to be 325 feet down the left and right field foul lines, and 400 feet in center field.
• Traditional waivers are to now be suspended from November 21 to December 15 every year. This was to enable trades between the American and National Leagues, without the usual requirement that players were to be waived out of their respective leagues.
• Though not approved in time for the fall 1958 draft, the selection prices for players drafted by major-league team was reduced from $25,000 () to $15,000 ().
• Rule 5 drafts were amended to allow teams to draft first year pro players, who were not on a team's 40-man major-league roster.
  • Given that a player was drafted under the now ceased bonus rule, the team which originally drafted a player must still cover the bonus money. For the entire season, the team that drafted said player must keep said player in the majors, or else be forced to return the player to his pre-Rule 5 draft team at the cost of $7,500 ().

Teams

Standings

American League

National League

• The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Braves in a regular season best-of-three tie-breaker series to earn the National League pennant.

Postseason

The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 8 with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in six games.

Bracket

| RD1-seed1=AL | RD1-team1=Chicago White Sox | RD1-score1=2 | RD1-seed2=NL | RD1-team2=Los Angeles Dodgers | RD1-score2=4

Managerial changes

Off-season

In-season

League leaders

American League

National League

Awards and honors

Regular season

Other awards

• Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Larry Sherry (LAD)

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

Main article: Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award

Baseball Hall of Fame

Main article: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

• Zack Wheat

Home field attendance

Venues

The San Francisco Giants would play their final game at Seals Stadium on September 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, moving into Candlestick Park for the start of the season.

Television coverage

CBS and NBC aired weekend Game of the Week broadcasts. The All-Star Game and World Series also aired on NBC. The rights to air the 1959 National League tie-breaker series were awarded to ABC.

Notes

Other Major League Baseball seasons since 1901 without a no-hitter pitched are , , , –, –, , , –, , , , , , and .

References

References

1. "These players integrated each MLB team".
2. ''The New York Times'' April 7, 1959
3. Friend, Harold. "Pumpsie Green and the Boston Red Sox's Racism".
4. [http://www.retrosheet.org/nohit_chrono.htm No-Hitters in chronological Order] by Retro Sheet
5. "MLB Rule Changes {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
6. "A guide to rules changes in MLB (and sports) history".
7. Lynch, Mike. "1958 Winter Meetings: The Last Word in Utter Futility – Society for American Baseball Research".
8. Henry, Alan P.. "1959 Winter Meetings: Winds of Change – Society for American Baseball Research".
9. "1959 Major League Managers".
10. "1959 American League Batting Leaders".
11. "1959 American League Pitching Leaders".
12. "1959 National League Batting Leaders".
13. "1959 National League Pitching Leaders".
14. "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
15. "Pitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
16. "Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
17. "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
18. "MLB Executive of the Year Award {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
19. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
20. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
21. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
22. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
23. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
24. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
25. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
26. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
27. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
28. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
29. "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
30. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
31. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
32. "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
33. "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
34. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
35. Reichler, Joe. (September 29, 1959). "Dodgers Confident of National Flag". Times Daily.
36. Lowry, Cynthia. (September 29, 1959). "Crosby Sings Plenty". Kentucky New Era.